Snowboard Kids

"Great game, very cartoony"

Snowboard Kids is the EXACT opposite of more serious boarders such as 1080 or Twisted Edge Snowboarding. The graphics are cartoony and very anime-like. The boarders are kids. Weapons such as pans, fans, ice blocks, the ability to turn your opponent into a snowman and more are at your disposal. And it is a great game.

Graphics: 9/10

The graphics are very cartoonish, and that's GOOD. As I stated above, you will see a definite hint of anime in them. Lots of great animations; there are different reactions for every weapon; pies flatten, turning your competitor into a snowman.. does just that, and so on. Sprites are not huge, but big enough, and very colorful.

Sound: 10/10

I thought the tracks fit the game; it could be argued that they are on the cartoonish side, but that's just keeping in tune with the game. The kids regularly shout, such as when they execute a trick, and shout gasps of pain when they get bumped to the ground or into a closed ski lift (more on this later).

Gameplay: 10/10

A very fun game. One big plus is that no matter how far behind in the race somebody is, a comeback is always a possibility, because the weapons are aimed to put the leader at a disadvantage. The Ghost slows the leader down; another weapon hunts him/her out. Things like this keep the race exciting to the end. The tracks are well laid out, not favoring any particular boarder too much given their different abilites. One fun little touch occurs when you complete a lap: you have to board the ski lift and ride to the top of the mountain again. But, you see, only ONE person can get on at a time, so if two people are close together, the first person will get on, and the second person will run right into the closing gate and fall down. It is quite possible for the second person to the gate to board fourth if the others are close behind. It's not really frustrating, though, it's fun, because you know you'll get another chance to catch up.

Replay: 9/10

The single player mode is fun, and will keep you entertained for a while, but as long as you've got some friends around, this game will satisfy you for a long time. Players that are overmatched by another can make up for the disadvantage using weapons. With more than one person, the game never gets old.

Overall: 9/10

A fun game that succeeds well in all areas. Many other didn't seem to like this game as much as I did, but I found it to be very entertaining, and I loved the anime-like atmosphere resonating throughout the whole thing. Definitely recommended for a rental at the very least.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99